Man Jailed After 3-hour Standoff near Wendell
The Gooding County Sheriff's Office said one person was taken to jail Saturday, November 2, after a possible hostage situation near Wendell.
Gooding County Sheriff Shaun Gough said the suspect, 45-year-old Justin Bell, was spotted by a Gooding County Sheriff's Deputy around 4 p.m. south of Wendell, driving near a cornfield.
Officers recognized Bell, as he had five outstanding warrants in Jerome County, one of which was a felony.
After Bell led them on a chase, police surrounded him at the cornfield and set up a perimeter around him. Soon after setting up the perimeter, Gough said police received reports that Bell had a hostage in his pickup truck and was also armed and dangerous.
After a three-hour stand-off, police at the scene were able to take Bell into custody.
No weapon was found on Bell, and Gough said authorities are still trying to find out if the woman in his car was a hostage, or was a willing participant in the chase.
Bell is currently being held in the Jerome County Jail.